George Rudkin – 48 North Street

John William Rudkin and Mary Ann Bryan were married in 1894 and had 7 children of whom three survived – John, George and Emily.

In 1911 all three were living with their parents at 48 North Street. John, born in 1894 was a barman, George, born in 1896 was an office boy and Emily was still at school. Both boys served in the war.

George joined the Lincolnshire Regiment. In 1915 he was injured in the trenches while serving in France. He received all three war medals. In 1901 they lived at Bealls Court – now demolished.

Phil Rudkin with helmet

Private George Rudkin – Stamford and Rutland Guardian October 27th 1915

Among the inmates of the military hospital at Cambridge is a young Stamford Territorial named Private George Rudkin, who was unlucky enough to be shot by a bullet in his wrist. The missile, it is thought went up his arm, and the surgeons, with the aid of the X-rays, are hopeful of locating and extracting it. Private Rudkin took part in the great charge, and before he was incapacitated a bullet struck his rifle and knocked him over, while another missile went through his boot but did not injure his foot. He is the possessor of an interesting war souvenir-a German bullet-which he picked up on the battlefield. Private Rudkin is the son of Mr and Mrs J. Rudkin of 48 North Street. In civilian life he worked for Messrs Blackstone and Co.

His son Phil remembers been shown the shrapnel scars. In 1925 he married Lucy Ellen Nickerson whose brothers had also served in the war.

George Henry Nickerson was killed in 1915,  John William Rudkin was killed during the Arras offensive in May 1917.

George brought back a German helmet as a souvenir. He died in 1957.

‘We cannot know the fears and traumas of families such as these, both with two young sons serving. When one was killed they would have had to wait anxiously for news of the other.’ (Phil Rudkin)